The WindFloat Atlantic project is currently constructing its first floating wind farm in Portugal. Construction and assembly of the over 2,000 tonne structure had taken place at the Navantia-Fene shipyard. Transportation was then required over a distance of several hundred metres to the quayside, and ultimately onto the Heavylift vessel Fjord.The load-out operation was defined as class 1, meaning strict time limits were in place; the operation was performed transversally, bringing obvious space limitations; the sheer size of the structure was also a factor, at 30m tall and with a distance of 50m between its columns.
ALE was chosen by its client Coordinatora to undertake this project. To perform the load-out, ALE installed 236 axle lines of SPMT underneath the three corners of the structure, taking care to synchronise their movements to a high degree of accuracy. Three groups of 54m ramps were also installed between the quay and the deck of the Fjord, allowing the ro-ro operation to take place. The structure was then towed to a position approximately 20km off the coast of Viana de Castelo, where it was installed. It will be joined by three similar structures in the near future.
